I AM the Football Star

Chapter 431: Chapter 121: Guys Named ”Driver” Are Usually Soft

The midfield for the Poland Team is still too weak, lacking a central core.

Otherwise, although the aggressive pressing just now was fierce, as long as the ball was taken and passed out, Pavovsky was convinced he would have scored.

This goal shattered the pride of the Poland Team completely.

They also gave up on that counter-attacking play style.

Now two goals behind, they panicked.

They began aggressive pressing.

But the Italy Team was prepared, and they switched from high-position ball control to a mid-position control strategy.

At the same time, Areola advanced his position, standing near the edge of the penalty box.

The several long pass counter-attacks by the Poland Team were neutralized by Areola in advance, who kicked the ball back with powerful shots.

If Sevajos hadn’t been taken down outside the penalty box with a yellow card as the cost, Areola might have gotten an assist from it!

In the last ten minutes of the match, the Poland Team was very flustered, and their time was running out.

To know, previously the Italy Team was one of the ”lowest-tier” teams in this European Youth Championship final round.

Poland has already had one draw, and if they lose another game, they can almost say goodbye to the top spot of the group.

No player could calmly accept such a result.

Pavovsky indicated for his two winger teammates to retreat extensively, leaving him alone at the front waiting for the ball.

The involvement of these two wingers brought a slight change to the situation.

The Poland Team took down Italy Team’s right-back Nikluci and initiated a successful counter-attack.

Nikluci got up quickly and chased back, but couldn’t exert enough pressure on the opponent.

The Poland Team’s right winger crossed the midfield line and made a long pass.

Pavovsky received the ball after the center circle, about forty-two meters from the goal.

He didn’t shoot as it was too far, opting instead to dribble forward.

Cortino and Pavovsky were in a standoff the whole way, constantly retreating.

Suddenly, the center-back Lam from behind rushed forward towards Pavovsky.

This was an extremely deceptive and aggressive misaligned play with great suddenness.

But Pavovsky’s small technical skills are quite good for a central forward, though his dribbling is generally understated and mainly focuses on sharp shooting, it doesn’t mean he can’t dribble past someone.

He is an excellent all-around forward, not just a Fox in the Penalty Area!

Bam!

Pavovsky executed a Marseille Turn, passing Lam.

At this point, he was about thirty-five meters from the goal.

Considering Pavovsky’s shooting ability, this was already within his long shooting range.

Cortino realized this and quickly switched from retreating to advancing.

After the Marseille Turn technique, there is often a brief separation period between the player and the ball.

Players often need to accelerate to catch up with the ball.

Many dribbling moves have this ”out-of-control period”.

Even after the easiest ball-control move like Fried Meatballs, there is still such a period. After all, even when dribbling, kicking the ball out counts as an out-of-control period before regaining possession.

Top players can usually reduce this out-of-control period to the shortest.

Players like Messi and Iniesta can seamlessly connect after Fried Meatballs, having even stronger control of the ball after the move than during the dribble.

But Pavovsky clearly doesn’t possess such dribbling skills.

The ball rolled forward, a fifty-fifty ball.

Both Cortino and Pavovsky had the opportunity to make contact with the ball.

That’s why Cortino chose to tackle.

In fact, this was not the best timing for him to tackle because he hadn’t dropped back to the best position yet.

There was still a long distance between Cortino and another Italy central defender Pirola behind him.

If Cortino tackled now and got bypassed, then Pirola would have no ability to stop Pavovsky’s long shot.

Bam!

The issue Cortino worried about finally occurred.

Pavovsky, who doesn’t give the impression of being fast, showed considerable bursts of speed after the Marseille Turn, stabbing the ball away before Cortino.

But to avoid Cortino, Pavovsky also chose to leap.

Although getting taken down could earn a well-positioned free-kick, this isn’t inside the penalty box. Considering Pavovsky’s one-on-one ability, he wouldn’t trade it even for a penalty, so he didn’t want to be taken down.

This also left him staggering, almost falling to the ground.

Eventually, his strong balance and adjustment ability helped him find his footing, stabilizing his center of gravity while moving forward, and he managed to catch up to the ball.

At this moment, he was only twenty-five meters from the goal, about three steps outside the penalty arc.

Areola was ready on the goal line, knowing it was too late to make a move now.

Pirola was near the penalty spot, hands behind his back, attempting to block Pavovsky’s shot.

It’s the only thing they could do.

Given Pavovsky’s shooting level, an unattended shot near the penalty arc was almost a guaranteed score.

Bam!

Pavovsky unleashed a powerful shot.

Bam!

Almost at the same time, a dull sound rang out!

The ball had barely taken flight before it was blocked by a leg and bounced back.

Bam!

Another sound echoed!

The ball bounced into Pavovsky’s abdomen with great force.

In the next moment, Pavovsky fell to the ground, curling up like a cooked lobster.